Patient handling device for bathtubs



March 23, 1954 J. N. GROSS 2,672,620 PATIENT HANDLING DEVICE FORBATHTUBS Filed Feb. 11, 1952 7 7 an I l5f8 (I9 20 FIG. 2 f f 7 INVENTOR.JOHN M GROSS AGE/VT supports or reduced rods 9 and N are reciprocallyslidably mounted. These tray extension supports 9 and 10 are retained inthe hollow tubular members la and 6:1 by means of the retainers H and 12which are pivoted spring clip members mounted on the arms 4 and 6 asshown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will be here noted thatthe hollow tubular members 4a and 6a are fixed to the arms 3 and 5providing unitary movement of the arms 3 and 5 with the arms 4 and 6.These members 4a and 6a provide a support for. the tray l3. This tray I3is provided with notched bearing portions l3a and i312 which notchedbearing portions engage the hollow tubular members 6a and 4drespectively. The shaft I8 is mounted in the casing 20 by means of thebearings Illa and fixed on this shaft l8 are the worm gears 16 and I1meshing with the gears l4 and I5 respectively. The motor I9 is areduction gear motor coupled with the shaft It for driving the same. Thecasing 20 encloses the driving mechanism for my patient handling devicefor bath tubs and the entire structure thereof, including the elevatingmeans hereinbefore described, is connected to the frame 2 which is.

readily removably inserted in a conventional bath tub.

The operation of my patient handling device for bath tubs issubstantially as follows:

When it is desired to lower a disabled patient into the bath tub I, theconventional portable cot, is rolled into position adjacent the bath tubi and the motor 19 is energized which rotates the shaft 18 turning thegears lb and il in mesh with the gears It and 65 respectively causingrotation of the shaft 2 and 8 which pivots the arms 4 and 6 and 3 and 5respectively'elevating the tray on the hollow tubular members ist and toto a position substantially on a level with the upper surface of theportable cot on which the disabled patient is located, all as indicatedby dash lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When the arms 3, 4, 5 and G arein such elevated position the tray extension supports 9 and it arereleased by pivoting the retainers H and 52 to the dash line positionsas shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings permitting these extension supportsto be axially slid outwardly of the tubular members do and 6a to theextended dash line position beyond the side of the bath tub whereuponthe tray i3 is supported beyond the side of the bath tub in closeproximity with the portable cot on which the disabled patient islocated. The Patient, is rolled off the tray l3 which is then retractedto a position over the bath tub I by slidably retracting the trayextension supports 9 and I and latching them into position by means ofthe retainers H and I2. The motor 19 is then energized which causesreverse rotation of the shaft 18 together with the shaft 7 and 8 whichgently lowers the tray 13 into the bottom of the bath tub i and immersesthe disabled patient in the bath.

It will be here noted that a conventional electrical circuit andsuitable limit switches-may be provided for the purpose of stopping thepivotal movement of the arms 3, 4, andi atthe 'de sired locations tocorrespond with certain requirements.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction,combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do. not wish tobe, limited ,to' this particul r;-construction, combined-f tion and.arrangement but desire; to include in: thescope of my invention,- theconstruction, com.-

bination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pat 1. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, aframe adapted to be removably inserted in a bath tub, trunnions on saidframe, a pairiof arms pivoted on said trunnions at each side of saidframe, hollow tubular members interconnecting said arms, a traypositioned over said hollow tubuiar members, means for driving said armsfor raising and lowering said tray, and means slidably mounted in saidhollow tubular members being extendable laterally of said frame whensaid arms are elevated for supporting said tray beyond one side of saidframe.

2. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, a frame adapted to beremovably inserted in a bath tub, trunnions on said frame, a pair ofarms pivoted on said trunnions at each side of said frame, hollowtubular members interconnecting said arms, a tray positioned over saidhollow tubular members, means for driving said arms for raising andlowering said tray, means slidably mounted in said hollow tubularmembers being extendable laterally of said frame when said arms areelevated for supporting said tray beyond one side of said frame, saiddriving means comprising a shaft adjacent the side of and supportedon'said frame and having gear means connected to said shaft for drivingsaid arms, and a motor for operating said shaft.

3. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, a frame removablyinsertable into a bath tub, arms pivotally mounted in said frame, hollowtubular rods connected to and between said arms, reduced diameter rodsslidably mounted within said hollow rods and releasable latchesconnected to certain of said arms and abutting said reduced rods, a traymounted on said hollow rods and slidable relative thereto to provide forlateral extension of said tray and said reduced rods relative to saidframe and said hollow rods when the arms are elevated to extend abovethe bath tub, and means for pivoting said arms for raising and loweringsaid tray.

4. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, a frame removablyinserted in a bath tub, a shaft secured to one side of said frame, amotor operatively connected to said shaft, worm gears spaced apart onsaid shaft, pinion gears on said frame driven by said worm gears, armspivotally secured to and actuated by said piniongears; a table pivotallysecured to said arms whereby said table is raised and lowered relativeto' said frame for placement and removal of said patient relative to abath tub when said motor is energized.

5. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, a frame removablyinserted in a bath tub; a shaft secured to one side of said frame, amotor operatively connected to said shaft, worm gears spaced apartlongitudinally on said shaft, pinion gears pivoted on said frame anddriven by said worm gears, a first pair of arms secured to and raisedand lowered by said pinion gearst'a' second pair of arms'pivotallysecured to said frame and being transversely opposite from said firstpair of arms, hollow tubular rods transversely arranged relative to saidframe and connecting said first and second pairs of arms, reduceddiameter rods slidably mounted within said hollow tubular rods,

releasable-latches abutting said reduceddiameten rods andsecured to-saidfirst pair of arms; a table "supported bylsaid hollow tubular rods,wherebyj said latches may be released and when said arms are elevated toextend above the bath tub said table may be moved transversely relativeto said frame and supported on said reduced diameter rods extendinglaterally relative to said hollow tubular rods.

6. In a patient handling device for bath tubs, a frame removablyinsertable in a bath tub, pairs of arms pivotally secured intransversely opposing relation on the sides of said frame, horizontal 1members rigidly secured to said arms and extending between the arms ofeach pair of arms, said members mounting supports longitudinally eX-tensible axially of said members when the arms are elevated above thelevel of the bath tub, a tray mounted on said horizontal members andslidable with and supported by said extensible supports for patientloading and unloading at the side of a bath tub wherein the device ismounted, and means for pivotally moving said arms for raising andlowering the tray relative to said frame.

JOHN N. GROSS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 693,300 Muller Feb. 11, 1902 2,087,286. Hick July 20, 19372,123,398 Bowers July 12, 1938 2,242,939 Buckel May 20, 1941 2,361,474Gross Oct. 31, 1944 2,495,965 Gustaveson Jan. 31, 1950

